Last night we attended the press night of Austen’s Women: Lady Susan. Jane Austen’s sharpest, most unconventional heroine (villain?) was brought to life with all the wit and venom the novella demands. Adapted from Austen’s epistolary work, the play transforms a series of letters into brisk, sparkling dialogue that had the audience captivated from the opening scene.
At the heart of the production is Lady Susan Vernon, ‘the most accomplished coquette in England’, played with exquisite command by Rebecca Vaughan. Her performance strikes the perfect balance between charm and calculation. With a raised eyebrow or a sly half-smile, she convinces the audience—just as she does her unwitting suitors—that manipulation can look like elegance. She is both irresistible and irredeemable, and the role fits her like a glove.
This is a brand new solo show and Vaughan plays all the characters so well, it’s difficult at times to believe it is the same person playing all the roles! It’s a while since I have seen a production in the York Theatre Royal’s Studio, but I love the intimate atmosphere and the way it makes you feel part of the action.
A clever, sparkling adaptation that highlights the humour, danger, and sheer audacity of Austen’s forgotten novella. With a commanding performance, this Lady Susan proves that Austen’s sharp satire belongs just as much on the stage as on the page.
Austen’s Women: Lady Susan is by Dyad Productions and will be in the Studio until Saturday.
